NJ ‘Miracle Dog’ Who Survived Gas Chamber Dies In Nutley

NUTLEY, NJ — A “miracle dog” who survived a grim encounter with a gas chamber – and inspired a movement for reform in his wake – recently died in Nutley, his owner says.

Daniel “The Beagle” Dwyer lost his battle with cancer last week, according to Joe Dwyer, who adopted the odds-defying doggo almost a decade ago.

The plucky pup’s fame developed in 2011, when he, along with 17 other stray dogs, was herded into an Alabama gas chamber to be euthanized. But fate had different plans for Daniel, whose remarkable story captured the eye of New Jersey-based animal welfare group, Eleventh Hour Rescue.

“They're saying that the weight of gas is heavier than air, and maybe he got an air pocket," Eleventh Hour Rescue founder Linda Schiller told Anderson Cooper. “But it's a one in a million shot that an animal would survive the gas chamber. Some people really just think it's a miracle.”

The nonprofit, which specializes in rescuing dogs from “high-kill” shelters across the nation, quickly picked up Daniel with plans to find him a forever family. The organization soon found one in Nutley with Dwyer – and the rest is history.

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Dwyer and Daniel didn’t forget the other dogs that weren’t as lucky that day. Using their newfound fame, the pair became advocates against the use of gas chambers for euthanasia, pushing for laws to protect pooches in similar situations.

Their efforts paid off. Prior to Daniel’s miracle in 2011, a total of 21 states were regularly using gas chambers to euthanize dogs. But as of 2020, only four states – Ohio, Wyoming, Missouri and Utah – were still actively using gas chambers in animal shelters, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

It's an ugly death, the society stated in a blog post:

"If you've ever had to put a beloved pet to sleep, then you know how heartbreaking it can be to lose a member of your family. Yet at the end of a cat or dog's life, the peace of a quiet room, the soft embrace of someone who cares and a gentle, painless sleep induced by a trained technician is one of the kindest gifts we can offer a suffering animal. When an animal is injected with proper euthanasia drugs, they lose consciousness in as little as three to five seconds. Contrast that with the workings of the gas chamber. If you're sensitive to animal suffering, its operation cannot help but disturb you. Animals are placed into a small, dark box, one that's sometimes full of the smells of the animals who came before them—many of whom may have urinated or defecated before they died."

The Humane Society continues:

"If animals are placed in the chamber together, they may begin fighting out of fear and desperation. For several minutes, they may be in the box, terrified, clawing and calling for a way out. They may struggle for air or begin convulsing before finally losing consciousness. Under the best circumstances, it takes minutes before an animal loses consciousness inside a gas chamber. But if the chamber is old or not well-calibrated—a frequent issue for under-resourced shelters—or if the animal is very young, very old, ill, injured or stressed, it can take much longer. In the worst cases, the animal is still conscious while its vital organs begin to shut down."

Daniel’s efforts earned him a “Hero Dog Award” from the American Humane, a ride on the float for the Lucy Pet Foundation during the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade, and a feature spot on an episode of the Anderson Cooper Show.

The prestigious pooch’s health eventually began to decline in June, his owner reported:

“On June 18, Daniel was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer that attacks a dog’s vascular system. Unfortunately, this type of cancer’s origin cannot be specifically pinpointed, though many studies suggest that exposure to chemicals at an early age could cause these later issues. For that, and so many reasons, ALL gas chambers must be eliminated from our world.”

“Each year, more than 670,000 dogs in this country die in shelters,” Dwyer urged. “While Daniel’s survival has helped so many lives, his death must not be in vain.”

“Daniel’s story lives on in each dog who sits in a shelter today, waiting for their human to come get them,” he added. “Want to help remember Daniel? Go to your local shelter and bring home your own Daniel.”

Eleventh Hour Rescue offered a stirring tribute to the beagle ambassador after learning of his passing.

“After getting his second chance, Daniel was a little beagle with a big mission to help save the lives of other homeless animals,” the group wrote. “His life truly was spared for a greater purpose and our rescue was honored to play a part in his story. We are so sorry to his family for the loss of this amazing pup. Fly high, Daniel. We will see you at the Rainbow Bridge.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

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